160756 An early exhibit of the National Air and Space Museum, still looking deadly in the dark corner. This Gustav was built in the Regensburg factory in 1943 for operations in tropical and desert climates. The Bf-109 with pilot René Darbois defected to the Allies on July 25, 1944 in Italy. Thereafter, the aircraft was shipped for evaluation to the USA. Restoration for the NASM was completed in 1974. The Gustav is painted to represent an aircraft of III./JG 27 in the Mediterranean theatre. (mehr von 160756)